COMPOSITE MOMENT OF INERTIA

Built-up Timber I-beams Courtesy Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities

Moment of Inertia for Composite Areas

Moments of inertia are a a!is" That is#
Ix = I
i=1 n i x

itive if they reference the same

n

and

I y = I yi
i=1

$e can use this to our a vantage for etermination of composite cross sections" %or our iscussion& a composite cross section is one comprise of mutiple simple geometric shapes" 'ne of the simplest composite shapes is a roun or rectangular tube"

Moment of Inertia for Composite Areas

Consi er the s(uare tube sho)n belo)"

h H

b B

%rom the appen i!& )e *no) the moment of inertia of a rectangle about each of its centroi al a!is is#
bh Ix = 12
3
3

hb Iy = 12

Moment of Inertia for Composite Areas

The s(uare tube can be mo ele as t)o concentric rectangles )ith a common !- an y-a!is" This allo)s the moment of inertia of each shape to be a e algebraically" +ince the interior rectangle is a ,hole,& treat this as a -negative area. an a a negative area an a negative moment of inertia"

BH 3 bh3 Ix = 12 12
h H

b B

HB hb Iy= 12 12

Parallel Axis Theorem for Moment of Inertia

+ince moments of inertia can only be a e if they reference the same a!is& )e must fin a )ay to etermine the moments of inertia of composite sections )hen this is not the case" An e!ample of this is the concrete T-beam sho)n" Although it is a simple matter to etermine the moment of inertia of each rectangular section that ma*es up the beam& they )ill not reference the same a!is& thus cannot be a e " /o)ever& if )e foun the moment of inertia of each section about some reference a!is such as the centroi al a!is of the composite& then )e coul a the in ivi ual moments of inertia"

Parallel Axis Theorem for Moment of Inertia

The parallel a!is theorem is use to o 0ust that" Consi er the follo)ing area )ith a *no)n centroi "
!
a

!c

Let
#A

x = xc a y = yc b xc

c "

xc

Then

A location of centroid y c dA yc = =0 A
2 2

x c dA = =0

I x = y dA = y c b dA = y c dA 2b y c dA b
A A

A A I xc 0

dA A
Area

I x = I xc b A
$

Parallel Axis Theorem for Moment of Inertia

!
a

!c

#A c "

xc

I x = I xc b 2A I y = I yc a 2A

Thus& the area moment of inertia )ith respect to any a!is in its plane is e(ual to the moment of inertia )ith respect to the parallel centroi al a!is plus the pro uct of the area an the s(uare of the istance bet)een the t)o a!is"
%

Examples for Moment of Inertia

E!ample 1# 2iven the moment of inertia of a rectangle about its centroi al a!is& apply the parallel a!is theorem to fin the moment of inertia for a rectangle about its base"
yc

bh3 I xc = 12
xc

x b

h distance = area = bh 2 bh 3 h 2 Ix = bh 12 2 bh 3 bh3 = 12 4 bh 3 3bh3 bh3 = = 12 12 3

&

Examples for Moment of Inertia

E!ample 3# %in the centroi al moment of inertia for a T-shape area" 45 %irst& locate the centroi of each rectangular area relative to a common base a!is& then""" 65 """ etermine the location of the centroi of the composite"
xc = 0 (by symmetry) y i Ai yc = Ai 5 62 1 24 = 24 62 608 = = 3.4 in 20

2(

$( ( !c 2( 4( )(

'

Examples for Moment of Inertia

75 %in centroi al moment of inertia about the !-a!is 3 bihi 2 I xc = I x1 I x2 )here I xi = d i bih i 12 26 3 2 4 I x1 = 5 3.4 26 = 66.72in 12 423 I x2 = 3.4 1 224 = 48.75in4 12 I xc = I x1 I x2 = 66.72 48.75 = 115.46 in 4

!4 !c
7"1. 3. - 7"1.

!c

!c

!
)*

!6 !

7"1. - 4.

Examples for Moment of Inertia

15 %in the centroi al moment of inertia about the y-a!is" +ince the centroi al y-a!is for each shape an for the composite is coinci ent& the moments of inertia are a itive"

yc

!c

I yc = I y1 I y2 3 hibi I yi = 12 3 3 62 24 4 I yc = = 14.66in 12 12

))

Examples for Moment of Inertia

As sections become more comple!& it is often easier to perform the calculations by creating tables to fin centroi an moment of inertia"
Part 4 6 7 Total ---------------8imensions Area ! y !A yA

Part 4 6 7 Total

Area

I!

Iy

y9A5

!9A5

I! :

y9A5

Iy :

!9A5

----

----

----

----

----

----

)2

Examples for Moment of Inertia

E!ample ;#
8etermine the location of the centroi 9,c,5 of the beam,s cross section an the moment of inertia about the centroi al !-a!is"
y 4. Typ" Part
4 6 7 Total 8imensions Area y yA

1!4 1!4 4!<

----------

1 1 <
16 in
2

6 6 ="3
----

< < 1
20 in
3

<.

1. yc

!c !

yc =
6

yA 20 = = 1.25 in A 16
6

Part 4 6 7 Total

Area

Ici

y9A5

I!ci > Ici :

y9A5

1 1 <
16 in
2

4?915 @46 4?915 @46 <?945 @46

---7 7

6 - 4"63 6 - 4"63 4"63 - ="3

----

6"63 6"63 1"3=

----

3"77 : 6"63 > A"3< 3"77 : 6"63 > A"3< =";;; : 1"3= > 3"4;
20.32 in
4

)3

Examples for Moment of Inertia

E!ample A#
8etermine the location of the centroi ,c, the beam,s cross section an the moment of inertia about both centroi al a!is"
y yc4 !c
!4

Part

8imensions

Area

!A

yA

yc
!6

1!4 4!<
----------

1 < 12

="3 3
----

6 ="3
----

6 1= 42

<
1

yc6
y4

6 Total

12

1.
c
y6

!c4
!c6 yc

!c !

xc =

4. Typ"

<.

x iAi 40 = = 3.33 in A 12 y A 12 yc = i i = = 1.00 in A 12

9A5 Iy
="777 16";;
6 !6

Part 4 6 Total

Area
1 < 12

I!
3"777 =";;;

y4

6
y4

9A5
1 6

I! :

6 y4

!6

9A5
7; 4<

Iy :

6 !6

9A5

6-4 4 - ="3

B"77 6";A 12

7"3 - ="3 3 - 7"3

7;"77 ;=";; 97

----

----

----

----

----

--------

)4